Automatic stopping and releasing device for mine-cars.



G. M. JOHNSON. AUTOMATIC SIQPPING AND RELEASING DEVICE FOR MINE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I917 Patented Dec. 4,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

m T N E V N G. M. JOHNSON.

AUTOMATIC STOPPING AND RELEASING DEVICE FOR MINE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED ruLY 5,1917.

1,249,106.. Patented Dec. 4,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS G. M. JOHNSON.

AUTOMATIC STOPPING AND RELEASING DEVICE FOR MINE CARS.

APPL|CATION FILED JUL-Y 5,19]?- 1,24%,1 w Patented Dec. 4,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESS Y GEORGE M. JOHNSON, OF MCDONALD,PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC STOPPING AND RELEASING DEVICE FOR MINE-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed July 6, 1917. Serial No. 178,998.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residingat McDonald, county of Washington and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Stopping and Releasing Devices for Mine-Cars, of which thefollowing is a specification. a

This invention relates to an automatic stopping and releasing device formine cars, more especially to that type adapted to be operatedautomatically by the movement of-the cars operating the mine cage, andbesides possessing the objects and advantages embodied in the deviceforming the subject matter of Letters Patent, No. 1,187,151, granted meJune 13, 1916, has for its further object to provide the devicewith anoperating mechanism, having means to prevent injury thereto on theascent of the mine cage.

A further object of the invention is to provide the device, in a manneras hereinafter set forth, with an actuating rod, for a plurality of stopelements, said actuating rod having associated therewith a series ofanti-friction rollers to provide for uniform travel of said rod, whenthe occasion so requires, to overcome friction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device, for thepurpose set forth, having means, in a manner as hereinafter referred to,for restoring the device to normal position, when released by the carswithout the employment of counter-weights.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to permit oflocking the cars on the cage, when the latter is mounted on supports orlanders.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device, for thepurpose set forth, which is simple in its construction, strong,automatic in its operation, durable, thoroughly efficient in its use,readily set up, and comparatively inexpensive.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofa novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter referred to, and illus. trated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to beunderstood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted towhich come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevation, party in section, of an automatic stopping andreleasing device'for mine cars and further showing the adaptationthereof in connection with the mine cage and a plurality of cars.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a mine cage showing theadaptation therewith of an automatic stopping and releasing device formine cars in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, somewhat on larged, of the operatingmechanism for releasing a pair of stop elements, said operating devicebeing in operative position due to the action thereon of a mine car.

Fig. 4. is an elevation, partly in section, of the operating mechanism,the latter being shown in inoperative position. i

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the operating mechanism, when in operativeposition, and further illustrating in full and dotted lines, theposition of the shiftable section of the plunger of the operatingmechanism on the ascent of the mine cage.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of one of the forward stop blocks.

An automatic stopping and releasing device for mine cars in accordancewith this invention, includes a pair of spring controlled rearward stopblooks, a pair of spring controlled forward stop blocks, shiftingmechanism for said forward stop blocks, an automatically operableactuating or operating mechanism for said shifting mechanism, andlanders for supporting the mine cage, and which permits of locking thecars upon the cage when the latter is supported upon the landers.

The shaft of the mine is indicated at 1, and the landing at 2, 3. Thelanding 2, 3, may be at the bottom of the shaft 1, at pointsintermediate the bottom and mouth of the shaft 1, or at the mouth of theshaft 1. But one landing is illustrated, it will be stated however, thatthe same type of landing as shown will be employed throughout the shaft,wherever required.

The side indicated at 2 of the landing is provided with trackrails 4, 5,and the side 3 of the landing is provided with trackrails 6, 7. Theselatter are arranged in alinement with track rails 4, 5. The trackrails4, 5, provide a track for the travel of the ears to the mine cage 8. Thetrack rails 6, 7 provide a track for the traveling of the car from themine cage 8.

The sides 2, 3, of the landing are in form of platforms provided withreinforcing elements 9, each provided with a depending hanger 10, havinga pair of inwardly eX- tending supports 11, which project toward themine shaft 1. The supports of each pair are arranged in alinement andmounted upon the support of each pair are bearings 12, which arearranged in alinemcnt. Journaled in one pair of bearings 12, is a shaft13, and journaled in another pair of bearings 12 is a shaft 14. Theshafts 13 and 14 are of a length greater than the width of the platformsof the landing and are arranged directly below the inner end of theplatforms of the said landing.

Fixed to the shaft 13 is a pair of upwardly extending landers 15, 16which normally incline to the shaft 1, and fixed to the shaft 14 is apair of upwardly extending landers 17, 13, which project normally at aninclination toward the shaft 1. Each of said landers 15 to 18 has itsupper end cut away to provide a shoulder 19 and a ledge 20, the formerabutting against the cage and the latter providing a seat for the cagewhen the cage is to be supported at the landing, as clearly illustratedin Fig. 1.

Connected to a crank arm21, on the shaft 13, is a shifting rod 22, whichis arranged below the reinforcing elements 9 of the side 2 of thelanding. Depending from one of the reinforcing elements 9 of the side 2of the landing is a bracket 23, having the lower end of the lever 24pivotally connected therewith as at 25. The rod 22 is pivotallyconnected to the lever 24 as at 26. The lever- 24 extends up through anopening 27 formed in the side 2 of the landing so that the lever can beconveniently operated to actuate the rod 22 to shift the lander 16,toward the mine shaft 1, and as the lander 16 is fixed to the shaft 13the latter will be rocked on its bearings and will carry the lander 15therewith.

Depending from the shaft 13 is a crank arm 28, to which is pivotallyconnected as at 29, a connecting rod 30, the latter extends across theshaft and is pivotally connected to a crank arm 31, on the shaft 14. Asthe lander is fixed to the shaft 14, it is obvious that when the shaft13 is rocked,

the connecting rod 30 will shift the arm 31, which in turn will rock theshaft 14 and the latter will carry the lander 17 therewith. The positionof the landers when shifted by the lever 24 is shown in Fig. 1.

Connected to the shaft 14, as well as eX-' tending at anangle withrespect thereto, and toward the mine shaft 1, is a supporting arm 32,upon which is adjustably mounted a counter-weight33, for the purpose ofrestoring thelanders to operative position when the lever 24 isreleased.

An adjustable flexible connection is indicated at 34, which is attachedto the lander 15 and is employed for limiting the inward movement of thelanders.

When the landers are shifted to the position as shown in Fig. 1 theysupport the mine cage 8. The mine cars which are inclicated at 35 can belocked upon the mine cage without necessitating the operation of thelanders, or in other words, the cars can be locked upon the cage whenthe latter is supported upon the landers.

The floor of the cage is indicated at 36 and has its lower face providedwith angle bars 37, for the purpose of reinforcing said floor. Dependingfrom the lower face of the floor 36, near each end, are transverseelements 38, each formed of a pair of channel bars, connected togetherat the lower ends by a plate 39. The said transverse members 38, form,what may be termed, abutments, which are seated upon the ledges of thelanders and contact with the shoulders of the .landers "for the purposeof sup porting the cage, and further for the purpose of maintaining thefloor of the cage in alinement with the platforms of the sides 2, 3, ofthe landings, so that the trackrails 40, 41, upon the upper face of thefloor 36, will. be in alinement withthe track-rails 4, 5, 6 and 7. Thetrack-rails 40, 41, provide a track upon the upper face of the floor 36,and each alines with the track formed by the rails 6, 7.

Secured to the upper face of the floor 36, exteriorly of the track-rails40, 41, and at each corner of said floor is a supporting plate. Theseplates are indicated at 42, 43, 44 and 45, and each of which at itsouter side is provided with a bevel 46, flat surface as at 47 and whichconstitutes a runway for water and the like.

Each of the plates 42, 45, has its upper face provided, with a segmentshaped lug 48, for purpose to be presently referred to.

Rear-ward 86079 bZ0c7cs.The rearward stop-blocks are indicated at 49,50, are quadrant shaped in contour, are oppositely disposed with respectto each other and normally project over the treads of the trackrails 40,41. The blocks 49, 50, each has. its

lower face formed with a pair of segment shaped grooves as at 51, 52.The lugs 48 travel in the grooves 52 and arrest movement in eitherdirection of the blocks as well as guiding the movement thereof.Extending down through the plate 43 is a shaft 53, and to the upper endof which is fixed the block 49. Extending down through the plate 42 is acrank shaft 54, having fixed to its upper end the block 50.

Shafts 53 and 54 extend through the floor 36 and each has its lower endprovided with a crank 55, to which is connected a coil spring 56, thelatter being attached to a keeper 57, which is arranged below andsecured with the floor 36. The spring 56 normally retains the blocks 42,43, in a position shown in Fig. 2, which is across the tread of therails 40, 41.

The blocks 42, 43 are automatically shifted from the position shown inFig. 2, by the wheels of the car, when the car is moved upon thetrackrails 40, 41 and after the rear wheels of the car have cleared theblocks 42, 43, springs 56, restore the blocks to the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2, to prevent shifting off of the car in one direction.

F o'rwarcl st0p-Z2Z007cs.The forward stop blocks are indicated at 60,61, and are similar in construction to the blocks 42, 43. The normalposition of the blocks 60, 61 is as illustrated in Fig. 2, that isextending upon the tread of the trackrails 40, 41. The block 60 operatesupon the plate 44 and the block 61 upon the plate 45. through the plate44 and floor 36 is a crank shaft 62, tothe upper end of which is fixedthe block 60. Extending down to the plate 45 and floor 36 is a crankshaft 63 to the upper end of which is fixed the block 61.

Secured to the upper face of the floor 36 between the track rails 40,41, is a plate 64, through which extends a shaft 65, having its upperend provided with a crank arm 66.

The shaft 65extends down through the floor 36, and has secured to itslower end a lever arm 67, to one end of which is pivotally connected aconnecting rod 68. The shaft 63 has'its lower end provided with a crank69,

which is pivotally connected to the rod 68.

Pivotally connected to the other end of the lever 67 is a connecting rod70. The shaft 62 has its lower end provided with a crank 71, which ispivotally connected to the connecting rod 70.

Arranged below the floor 36, as well as being secured therewith is akeeper 72, to which one end of a coil spring 73 is attached. The spring73 is a pulling spring and has its other end connected as at 74, to thepivot between the rod and the lever 67.

The function of the spring 73, is to normally maintain blocks 60, 61, ina position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2.

Extending down Mounted upon the upper face of the floor 36, between thetrack rails 40, 41, is a pair of brackets, 74, 75 each provided with apair of superposed bearing rollers 76, which form anti-friction meansfor the shifting element for the forward stop blocks. Said element moveslongitudinally with respect to the cage, and the function thereof is toshift the forward stop blocks clear of the treads of the track rails 40,41. The shifting element is in the form of an elongated push rod, 7 7,having its forward end pivotally connected to the crank 66, and its rearend provided with an abutment 78 which is somewhat larger than thediameter of the rod.

To limit the. rearward movement of the rod 77, the latter is providedwith a collar 79, adapted to impact against the bracket 74, under suchconditions limiting the rearward movement of said rod.

The automatically operable actuating or operating mechanism for theshifting element or mechanism which is employed for actuating saidshifting mechanism to move the forward stop blocks to release'position,comprises a plate 80 which is secured to the side 2 of the landing, at apoint between the trackrails 4, 5. Connected with or formed integralwith the plate 80, intermediate its ends, is a pair of uprights 81,which support spaced anti-friction rollers 82'.

Extending between the anti-frictionvrollers 82, is a sectional plungercomprising sections 83 and 84. The section 83 slides between the rollers82 and is provided at its outer end with a head 85, secured therewith asat 86, and formed with a bifurcated lower portion 87, in which isjournaled a wheel or sheave 88, which travels upon the plate 80.

Secured to the other end of the section 83, as at 89, at a pointremoved, from the said other end, is a bracket 90, which extends aboveand below said section 83. The lower end of the bracket has iournaledtherein a wheel or sheave 91, which travels upon the plate 80. Thesection 83 projects inwardly from the bracket 90, as at 92.

The section 84, constitutes what may be termed an abutment, and at itsinner end is provided with socket 93, which receives the projecting end92 of the section 83. The section 84 is much larger than the diameter ofthe section 83 and at its outer end is formed with an off-set 94, whichis disposed vertically. Projecting from said off-set portion 94, is apair of lugs 95, which are pivotally connected as at 96, to the top ofthe bracket 90. By such an arrangement the section 84 can be swungbackwardly to permit of the ascent of the cage without damaging theplunger as indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 5.

Formed integral with the plate 80, near the outer end thereof, is a pairof apertured rods 08 and 70.

lugs 97, between which is pivoted, as at 98, the lower terminus of thecurved portion 99 of the operating lever 100.

The curved portion 99 of the lever 100 is formed with a cam extension101, provided with a. wheel or sheave 102.

/Vhen the car, as indicated at 103 is shifted on the track formed by thetrack rails 4, 5, the bottom of the car 103 engages the straight portionof the lever 100 as the car moves toward the cage. The lever 100 isdepressed, causing the wheel ,or sheave 102, to ride against the head85, and as the cam portion 101 moves downwardly the plunger is forcedtoward the mine cage, whereby the abutment 84:, engaging the abutment.78, will shift the push rod 77, longitudinally of the mine cage, undersuch con ditions shifting the crank arm 66, carrying the shafttherewith, which in turn will shift the lever arm 67 actuating theconnect When the connecting rods 68, 70 are actuated the crank shafts69, will be moved opposite directions with respect to each other, andthe forward stop blocks 60, 61 will be shifted from off the treads ofthe traclrrails 10, 41, and the car which has been locked on the cagecan be shifted therefrom.

The plunger formed of the sections 83, 8% will remain in an extendedposition. until the lever 100 is released which would be when the carhas cleared the track on the side 2 of the landing. After the lever hasbeen released, in the manner as stated, the sections 83, 8 .2 of theplunger are returned to normal position by an expansion spring 103,which is connected as at 10 to a head 85. and as at 105, to the plate80.

In the operation of the blocks considerable trouble is causcd by theblocks becoming clogged and prevented from movement, due to pieces ofcoal or other material falling upon the floor of the cage near theblocks. The blocks, however, are constructed in a manner as set forth inthe Letters Patent referred to, to overcome the objections stated.

Although the drawings illustrate two cars upon the mine cage, yet it isto be understood that the device is applicable for use in connectionwith one or more cars.

The plate 80, provided with a track, upon which travels the wheels orsheaves 88 and 91, and which track acts as a guide for the plunger.

What I claim is:

1. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising forward stop blocks,shifting mechanism therefor, a sectional plunger for actuating saidmechanism to move the blocks to release position, one of the sections ofsaid plunger pivotally connected to the' other and capable of beingshifted at an angle with respect thereto, and means for operating saidplunger.

2. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising forward stop blocks, ashifting mechanism therefor including. a push rod,

2 spring controlled plunger for actuating F when shifting to normalposition.

3. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising forward stop blocks, ashifting mechanism therefor including-a pushrod, a spring controlledplunger for actuating said mechanism to move said blocks to releaseposition, means for shifting said plunger against the action of itsspring to operate said mechanism, anti-friction rollers for supportingsaid push rod, and said plunger including a pivoted section capable ofbeing turned back during the ascent of the mine cage when the plungerhas been shifted to actuatesaid mechanism.

4:. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising a stop blockreleasing mechanism, an operating mechanism' therefor, said operatingmechanism including a plunger having a pivoted section capable of beingswungclear of the mine cage during the ascent of the cage when saidoperating mechanism has been actuated to operate the stop blockreleasing mechanism.

5. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising an automaticallyoperable actuating or operating mechanism for a stop block shiftingmechanism, said operating moch anism including a spring controlledplunge including a pair of sections, one of said sections pivoted to andadapted to receive the end of the other section.

6. A device for thepurpose set forth, comprising an automaticallyoperable actuating or operating mechanism for a stop block shiftingmechanism, said operating mechanism including a spring controlledplunger consisting of a pair of sections, one of said sections providedwith a head and the other of said sections pivoted to that sectionhaving the head and adapted to receive the inner end of that sectionhaving tie head and a lever provided with a cam extension capable whenthe lever moves in one direction to engage with said head for shiftingthe plunger.

7. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising an automaticallyoperable actuating or operating mechanism for a stop block shiftingmechanism, said operating mech-.

anism including a spring controlled plunger conslstlng of a pair ofsections, one of sald sections provided With a head and the other ofsaid sections pivoted to that section hav ing the head and adapted toreceive the inner end 01'' that section having the head and a leverprovided With a cam extension capable when the lever moves in onedirection to engage With said head for shifting the plunger, saidpivoted section of greater size than the other section of said plungerand constituting an abutment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

GEORGE M. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

MAX H. SROLOVITZ, LUELLA H. SIMON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G.

